The sun was shining and it was a warm day. She hated these kinds of days. The sun was too bright, the air too warm, and there were too many people around. Now, she didn’t always hate these bright, beautiful days. She used to live for the sun; sitting out and letting the warm rays heat her skin. Those days were over. Now she lived for the night; for the darkness and the mysteries it hid in its shadows.

She tucked her long blond hair behind her ear as she walked through the park, the heels of her stiletto boots slightly sinking into the soft ground. Her blue eyes took in the sights and sounds all around her. A young mother was pushing her child in the swing; two small children were rolling around on the grass with a puppy; the sounds of birds filled the air. She quickened her pace – all this happiness was making her sick to her stomach.

Leaving the park behind her, she headed toward Kelly’s. Although she never would admit it verbally, she found that she actually liked the small diner. It had a certain charm to it. But what she was most interested in was the club occupying the space under the diner. It had once belonged to her grandmother, Katherine. And it will belong to me very soon, she thought to herself. She had plans for this town, big plans.

Bypassing the front door of the diner, she went around the side to the street entrance of the club. With slow, deliberate steps, she made her way down and slid through the door. The club had not changed much since the last time she was in town, but that would all change once she had control of it. And the first thing to go would be the name. The Cellar. What a ridiculous name, she thought.

She stood in the shadows of the doorway and looked around. It was still early in the day, so the club was not officially open for business, but the signs of preparations were evident. A man was behind the bar cleaning glasses and checking inventory. A woman was wiping down the tables after placing the chairs back on the floor. And two other women sat at a table together.

She recognized one of the women immediately. Her hair was dark now and she figured the woman had become tired of her bleached blonde look. She had to admit that the darker color gave the woman a more exotic look. Taking advantage of not having been noticed, she looked the woman over. The silk, raspberry colored camisole top hugged the woman’s petite frame, the spaghetti straps showing off her slim shoulders.

She then turned her attention to the other woman. She was young, but there was deepness and wisdom in her eyes. Her skin was slightly bronzed and set off by her onyx hair. Even from where she was standing, she could see the young woman’s saphire eyes glittering with amusement. She smiled as she took in the woman’s wine colored, strapless, bustier-style top and the way is stretched over her rounded belly. The black flare-legged pants and wine colored strappy sandals hinted at the fact that the woman had a sense of style.

Stepping a little closer, but staying in the shadows, she listened to the conversation between Carly Corinthos and Jessica Alcazar.

*~*~*~*~*

“You’re not serious, are you?” Carly laughed her eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Yes Carly, I am. I still have no idea how I even got into the Porsche in the first place, but getting out? If I had been able to, I would have rung my brother’s neck!” Jessica shook her head, but there was a smile on her lips. Poor Diego had been teased so much, but Jessica felt he deserved it for freaking out and not listening to her.

“I wish I could have seen that,” Carly said.

“Please, it was bad enough that Jason, my father, Skye and Dr. Meadows were all waiting at the elevator for me. You would think I was the first woman on the planet to be having a baby.”

Carly smiled at her friend sympathetically. “You have to understand something Jessica. When a woman is pregnant, all the men in her life turn dumb for the whole nine months. You should have seen Sonny when I was pregnant with Morgan. I swear he acted as if the slightest movement was going to cause the baby to drop right out. And it got worse the closer I was to delivering.”

Jessica sighed and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, you only had Sonny to deal with. I have Jason, who really hasn’t been that bad honestly – well, except for asking if I’m hungry every five minutes and wanting me to lie down and rest every two minutes. Then there’s my father. When he’s not glaring at Jason, probably wishing him dead, he is constantly telling me to get off my feet and drink more milk – although I did point out that if I ever saw him drink milk I think I would keel over. And finally there’s Diego, who freaks out every time I make a sound at the baby’s movements or have a bout of Braxton Hicks. I swear the three of them are going to drive me insane before this baby is even born. And don’t even get me started on the guards! It’s a miracle I can even go to the bathroom alone these days.”

Carly nodded. Ever since Faith had been spotted in town, the guards surrounding Carly and Jessica had been increased. She was used to it, but Jessica was still struggling with the lack of privacy. “I know you don’t like having them around Jessica, but with you getting closer to your delivery date and that psycho on the loose, it’s for the best.”

“I know that Carly. It’s just . . . I was starting to get my life back on track, you know? Jason and I are getting close again. I’m developing a great relationship with Diego. My father is treating me more like an adult than a child these days. I have a great job here with you. I guess I just don’t want a repeat of what happened with Ric.” Ever since learning about Faith and the kind of person she is, Jessica had been worried that her child’s life would be in danger.

“Look Jessica,” Carly began. “I know you’re unsure about raising your daughter in the world the men we love live in. But Jason will never let anything happen to you or his daughter. It’s the one thing I’m sure both him and Lorenzo agree on. I worry every day for my boys, but I would worry about them even if I wasn’t a part of Sonny’s world. You’re a very strong, independent woman Jessica. If there is anyone who can survive in this world, it’s you.”

Jessica smiled as she looked at her friend. Carly was right. Jessica wouldn’t give this life up for anything. Not if it meant cutting out the most important people in it. She had tried that once already and it hadn’t worked. “Thanks Carly,” she said, taking the older woman’s hand.

*~*~*~*~*

“How touching,” said Faith as she emerged from the shadows. “I really didn’t think you had it in you Carly.”

Carly spun in her chair and stood. “Get the hell out of my club Faith,” she said her hands on her hips.

“For someone who’s supposed to be a savvy business woman, you sure don’t understand the rules of the game. Don’t you know its bad business to throw out a paying customer?” Faith asked in a sickly sweet voice.

Jessica looked between Carly and the woman she now knew was Faith Roscoe. She was beautiful; Jessica had to give her that. Carly had told her that she was referred to as the Black Widow, and Jessica could see why. The woman was dressed in black from head to toe; her blonde hair and pale complexion greatly contrasted with the darkness of her clothing, giving her an almost ethereal look.

Faith moved further into the room, looking around. “I can see your taste in décor has not changed Carly. Really, don’t people get tired of coming here and seeing the same drab colors?”

“What do you want Faith?” Carly asked, itching to get her hands on the woman. Sonny had made her promise not to go looking for trouble with Faith, but there was no way Carly was going to back down when the woman came to her.

“Oh, not much,” Faith answered as she stopped by the bar and turned to face the women. “Although I am sure Sonny and Lorenzo have alerted you two to the fact that I was in town, I thought I should put in a personal appearance. After all, this club will belong to me soon.”

“You must really have gone off the deep end Faith. There is no way you’re getting your hands on my club,” Carly seethed, taking a step closer to the woman.

Jessica reached out and grabbed Carly’s arm. “She’s trying to bait you Carly. Don’t give in to her,” she said, glaring at the blonde.

“Aren’t you the smart one,” Faith purred as she pushed off the bar and sauntered over to Jessica.

Jessica stood her ground. She was not going to let this woman intimidate her. “I think you were asked to leave. I suggest you do.”

Reacting on instinct, Jessica grabbed Faith’s wrist with one hand and her throat with the other, twisting the woman’s hand away from her. “You ever threaten or come near me again; this town won’t have to worry about you ever coming back here.” Jessica added pressure to the woman’s throat, seeing the malice sparkle in her ice blue eyes.

Carly watched wide-eyed.

Faith smiled, not even wincing at the iron grip Jessica had on her wrist and throat. “Daddy must be so proud of his little girl,” she said, her voice coming out in a whisper.

“Don’t underestimate me Faith. I’m a lot more dangerous than most people realize.”

Carly saw Max and Jessica’s guard, Ramon, come up behind Faith, but she put up a hand to stop them. Carly was curious as to what Jessica was going to do next.

“Now, when I let you go, you are going to take your cheap hooker look and walk out the door and never come back here again. Next time, I might not be so nice,” Jessica said in an innocent voice, the fire in her eyes showing how serious she was. “Do we understand each other?”

“Perfectly,” Faith managed to get out, her air flow starting to dwindle. She knew her face was starting to turn red.

“Good. Oh, and don’t think about trying anything when I let go. Ramon may be the strong silent type, but he’s also a shoot first, ask questions later kind of guy.”

Carly watched in awe as Jessica let Faith go. The other woman took an unsteady step back, her hand going to her neck and massaging the now tender flesh. “I so do love a challenge,” she said, her eyes traveling over Jessica. “This is going to be fun.”

Faith tossed her long golden blonde hair over her shoulder as she strode out of the club.

*~*~*~*~*

“Are you two out of your minds?” Jason asked as he looked between Jessica and Carly. “Carly, you know better than to goad that woman!”

“We didn’t do anything Jason! She walked in here uninvited and started with us!” Carly exclaimed. She couldn’t believe Jason was blaming this on her and Jessica.

Jason just shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. He had come right over as soon as Max called him, saying that Faith was at The Cellar. By the time Jason got there though, Faith was already gone.

“Excuse me Jason, but Carly’s right. Faith was baiting them and I have to admit that both Carly and Jessica held their own,” said Max as he stepped forward. He was still in awe at what he saw happen.

Jason turned to Max. “And where were you? Why was Faith able to get that close?”

“Well, when I came out front, she was already here talking to Carly and Jessica. I was about to escort her out . . . but . . ."

“But what Max?”

“Jessica seemed to be handling the situation very well. She had Faith by the throat when she got too close.” Then Max went on to tell Jason what happened.

Jason was surprised and impressed. He turned to Jessica and went over to her. “Do I even have to ask if you’re okay?” he asked her gently.

Jessica looked up. She had been waiting for Jason to yell at her. “Aren’t you going to yell?”

Jason sat in the chair next to her. “No Jessica, I’m not going to yell at you,” he said. “Max told me what happened.”

Jessica bit her lip as she looked at him. “I just reacted, you know?”

“Yeah, I know,” he said. Then he leaned over and kissed her gently.

Jessica brought her hand up to Jason’s face, cupping his cheek.

After pulling back from the kiss, Jason took her hand. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

*~*~*~*~*

“That is one spitfire of a daughter you have,” Faith said as the door was opened.

“Stay away from my daughter Faith,” said Lorenzo as he went to close the door in her face.

Faith reached out and stopped the door. Then she pushed her way in, tossing her purse onto the desk. “Here’s a warning Alcazar. If she ever touches me again, she won’t have to wait three more months to see that precious brat of hers born.”

Lorenzo walked over to Faith and shot his hand out, grasping her around the neck. “Don’t threaten my daughter Faith,” he growled in a low and dangerous voice.

Faith rolled her eyes. “Now I see where she gets it from,” she said. “I guess the little princess takes after her Daddy after all.”

Lorenzo let her go and walked over to the bar. “What do you want Faith?” he asked in a bored voice, keeping his face neutral, but inside he was proud that Jessica had been able to handle her own against the woman. Ramon had called to let him know what happened. Lorenzo had been ready to head over there when the guard told him that Morgan was already there. Although he didn’t like it, Lorenzo knew that Jessica would want to see Jason more than her father right now.

Faith watched him. She had been with a lot of men since the death of her husband. Each was different in his own way, but Lorenzo Alcazar had always stood out above them all. He was tall, dark, and held an air of mystery and danger. Faith let her eyes travel over him. From his black hair to his chiseled features and intense blue eyes. Her eyes continued to travel further down. Faith knew from personal experience that beneath the black button down shirt and tailored suit was a body that rippled with muscles and even more power. Faith licked her lips, remembering their last encounter in this very apartment.

Lorenzo sighed as he waited for an answer. Faith was always up to no good, and he wasn’t going to let her screw with his family. “What are you doing in Port Charles Faith?” he asked, pouring himself another glass of brandy.

“You know what they say about absence,” she said, slinking up to him, taking the tumbler from his hand and sipping from it herself. “It makes the heart grow fonder.” Faith put the tumbler down, lifted her hand, and moved it over Lorenzo’s chest to his heart.

Lorenzo grabbed her wrist – the same one that Jessica had grabbed earlier – and brought it to her side. “I’m not in the mood for games Faith. I am warning you now: stay away from Jessica and Diego.”

“And what about your new bed buddy Lorenzo,” Faith asked seductively. “Skye is quite a fiery one, isn’t she? You know, it would take just one little slip to push her off that wagon. Skye isn’t as strong and independent as she likes to think.” Faith moved closer to Lorenzo, closing the already small gap between them. Faith could feel his hot breath on her head. She tilted her face up to his. Her heels put her just under his chin. Faith knew why she came back. It wasn’t to just wreak havoc on the town; it was to find her way back into Lorenzo’s arms. Their affair had been short lived, but Faith had thought about it ever since. True, she was drawn to the dangerous type, and although Port Charles had its fair share, Faith was drawn to Lorenzo Alcazar as soon as he arrived in Port Charles.

Not giving Lorenzo a chance to threaten her, Faith closed the rest of the distance between her and Lorenzo, her lips pressing to his.

“Lorenzo, I just spoke with Jessica and she told me . . .” Skye stopped when she saw Lorenzo Alcazar, the man she had come to care a great deal about . . . and maybe even love, standing in the middle of the living room, kissing Faith Roscoe.